Air-ship.



PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

A. W; H. GRIEPE.

AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 8. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N .9 y mum No. 869,238. PATENTED OCT. 29'. 1907. A. W. H. GRIEPE.

AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION rum) MAB. e. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2 PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

A. W. H. GRIEPE.

v AIR SHIP. APPLIOATIOI FILED HA1. 8. 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 NMHQMLLLLKLEE Nd. 869,238. PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907. A. W. H. GRIEPE.

AIR SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAB. s. 1901.

SHBBTB-SHBBT 4.

. from the acting center of the wings.

wheels, said motors being disposedin four directions horizontal section through the same. Fig. 6 is a front AUGUST W. H. GRIEPE,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIR-SHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. '29, 1907.

Application filed March 8. 1907. Serial No. 361,323.

To all whom it may concern: V l

Be it known that I, AUGUST W. H. GRIEPE, a subject i of theEmperor of Germany, residing at New York, in i the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in hir Ships, of which the following is a: specification.

This invention relates toair ships of the aeroplane type, and one of the principal objects of the same is to provide pivotallymounted aeroplanes and improved means for adjusting the aeroplanes at various inclinations to catch the wind in ascending and descending.

Another object of the invention is to provide an aeroplane air ship' with motors for operating the propelling with a view to equalizing the vibration so as not to interfere with the poise of tits ship. v

Another-object of the'invention is to provide a wheeled frame upon which the air ship is mounted, and an operators cab mounted upon said frame and provided with :1 trap door for letting down -a parachute whenever emergency requires.

Still another object is to provide. improved means for steering the ship, both in its movements on land, and when floating in the air.

A noyher object of the invention is the arrangement of the heavier parts of the machine below the acting center of the aeroplane so that todisturb the equilibrium of the machine, the aggregate disturbing pressure on the aeroplane must be greater than the, momentum of the weight of the lower parts of the machine multiplied by the distance of the common center "(if gravity These and other objects may beattained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings,'in which:

Figure'l is a side elevation of an air ship made in accordance with my invention, and showing the parachute extended below and ready to be cut loose from the machine. Fig. 2-is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3. is a front end view of the same. F ig. 4' is a transverse section through two of the motor elements. Fig. 5 is a elevation of the machine with the transverse shaft broken away. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the wheeled frame ,with the vertical supporting rod shown in section.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the traction wheels, and 2 is the steering wheel, said traction wheels being mounted one in front and two at the sides of the frame, the steering wheel 2 being mdunted in the rear and in line with the front wheel, 'as shown more par icularly in Fig. 7. The wheels 1 are mounted in a diamond. shaped frame 3 composed of light tubing, and said frameiheing. suspended by four upright'rods or tubes 4. A platform 5, having a surrounding railing 6, is properly mounted upon the frame 3 to provide a The supporting frame for the operative mechanism is composed of longitudinal tubes 13. cross tubes 14, and bracing wires 15, said frame being pointed at the ends and provided with bearings 16 for the longitudinal shaft sections 17, 18, said shaft sections having propeller wheels 19, 20 secured thereto, said propeller wheels being of any suitable type. Mounted cenlrally within the frame are four motor elements 21. said clements, as shown, being of the'gasolene or alcohol type and arranged in four diametrically disposed directions. as shown in Fig. 5, the piston rods 22 of said motors being connected to a wrist pin 23 on a crank wheel 24 connected to the longitudinal shalt sections l7, 18 on which the propeller wheels 19, 20 are mounted. By this arrangement of motor elements, the vibration is equalized in all directions, and the poise of i he ship is not interfered with. Three of these motor elements are used during the flight, one being kept in readiness! for use in case of breakage or injury to one of the others.

The upright rods 4 are connected to the longitudimtl rods. 13,- thus suspending the wheeled frame below the supporting frame for the operating mechanism. A.

transversely extending tubular shaft 25 is journaled in two bearings 26 supported upon the framework, and connected to the shaft 25 are the rectangular aeroplanes 27, said aeroplanes being formed of bamboo sections. or light tubular metal frames 28. properly braced by wires 29 extending diagonally across the 'franleworl and connected at suitable points. as shown more par ticularly in Fig. 2, an upright support 30 serving to. sustain the aeroplanes against vertical displacement, any suitable number of uprights being emplo ed.

As shown in Fig. 1 the framework of the aeroplane at the front is bent up or curved at 31 to increase the ability of the machine to ascend. On the tube 25 between the bearings26 is attached a sleeve 44 provided with two arms or levers 45, and connected to these arms 45 are two cables 33 which pass around pulleys 34 located at opposite ends of the motor supporting frame, and extendthence to the operators cab, the ends of said cables passing around a drum 35 provided with a handle and a ratchet wheel to hold said drum in adjusted position. By this means the inclination of the aeroplane may be quickly adjusted, dependent upon the velocity and direction of the wind. A cable 36, passing around rollers or pulleys 37 mounted in depending tubes 38, is provided with sliding weights 39, which may be shifted to trim the ship, and give the required poise thereto.

The steering wheel 2 is mounted upon one of the uprights t. and connected to said wheel is a lever extending within reach of the operator. while the rttdder ll. ol' suitahle construction, is provided with a sleeve 12 mounted to turn ttpon said uprights l. and a lever 43 connected to the lever it) extends to the operators ealr. it will he understood that the aeroplattes are covered witlt oiled silk. or other light impervious ma terial attd that the rttdder ll may he composed of similar material The operation of my invention tttay he hrielly deserihed as follows: The operator. taking. his place in the cal, starts the motors to rotate the propeller wheels 15). 2t). tlte machine heing propelled over the ground attd resting upon the wheels I and 2. The aeroplanes are adjusted at the required inclination to ret-eive the wind underneath them. and the bend bl in the front. portions of said aeroplanes serving to assist in this operation. \\hen stlllieient velocity has been attained. the ship will rise. attd wlten a sutlicient altitude has been attained. the aeroplanes are adjusted to a suhstantially horizontal position. the force of the propeller wheels heitrg sullit-ient to carry the machine iorward in a substantially horizontal direction. When it is desired to descend. the aeroplanes are adjusted with the forward ends slightly downward for a suilieient time to gain an inclined downward direction. when they may he again righted or adjusted to suit varying conditions. ltt case any ol' the operative parts should become unmanageahle the operator may (-onnet-t the parachute It) and open the door 8 when by )ullin" 1|)tlll the wire or cord l2. it. mav he discon-' neet ed trom the air ship, and he may descend to the ground.

From the l tllflgtlll t l it will be obvious that an atr ship made in accordance With my invention is comparatively simple in construction, can be readily managed by a single person, and is provided with quick adjustments of the aeroplanes. while direction may he given to the ship by means of the rudder.

Having thus described the invention. what l-elaim is:

1. ln-an air ship of the aeroplane type. a frame, ground wheels carried by said frame, propeller wheels. means for rotating said propeller wheels, aeroplanes pivotally mounted upon a cross bar extending centrally aeross said frame. saitl aeroplanes being; provided with metal frames having upwardly hent front ends, and means for adjusting the longitudinal inelination of said aeroplanes.

2. in an air sltip of the aeroplane t \'pe,.a frame, ground wheels mounted on said frame. propeller wheels mounted on said frame. motors for operating said propeller wheels, said motors being disposed iii-four cardinal directions to over otne unequal vibration and to assist in the poise of the ship. aeroplanes mounted upon a transversely arranged centrally disposed cross har. ,said aeroplanes havin metal frames bent upwardly at their front ends. and means for adjusting the longitudinal inclination of said aeroplanes.

ii. In an air sltip of the aeroplane type, a frame, ground wheels tnottnted on said frame. propeller wheels. motors for opt-rating said propeller wheels. aeroplanes mounted upon a centrally disposed transversely arranged cross bar, said aeroplanes being provided with metal frames bent upward at their front ends, means for adjusting the longitudinal inclination of said aeroplanes, comprising a cable and a winding drttm. a cable mounted ttpon pulleys on the frame and provided with sliding weights for trimmin the ship.

4', iii an air ship, the combination of a frame, ground wheels mounted on said frame, propeller wheels, means for rotating said propeller wheels, steering devices. aeroplanes pivolally mounted upon a centrally disposed transverse cross bar. said aeroplanes comprising metal frames having upwardly bent front ends.

in testimony whereof, I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST W. ll. GRIEIE.

fitness s.

Wu. i )IoNAGHAN,

\V. S. Motniisox. 

